SBA

Local Resources 

Starting a Business in Michigan

• Small Business Readiness Assessment Tool – an interactive program to be utilized by individuals starting a small business. This tool will provide the user with basic education about the “nuts and bolts” of launching their business and help the individual define what specific assistance may be needed.   At the MI-SBTDC website click on "New Ventures" then "Tools" to access the Assessment Tool.
• Starting a Business In Michigan – Website for the State of Michigan.  Many helpful links and topics including the search tool for the state licensing requirements and link to Guide to Starting a Business. 
• SBA Online Library – over 45 downloadable publications on a variety of business topics.

Assistance

• Accountants/CPAs – CPAs must be licensed by the Michigan State Board of Accountancy. Use this database to verify a license and/or registration.
• Attorneys – links to State Bar of Michigan lawyer referral service.
• Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center – SBA partnership program providing free business counseling from certified business counselors statewide.
• SCORE – SBA partnership program providing free business counseling and mentoring from Michigan business professionals who volunteer their time.

Business Registration and Legal Issues

• Business Law  – provides information and links to the various state and federal agencies a business may need to contact to ensure legal compliance.
• Forming a Partnership – to read the text of the law governing partnerships in Michigan. Any individuals forming a partnership in Michigan who do not write their own partnership agreement are subject to the Uniform Partnership Act.
• Forming a Corporation, LLC or LLP – all Michigan corporations must file their bylaws and articles of incorporation with Michigan’s Bureau of Commercial Service.
• Michigan Electronic Registration for Taxes – This interactive tool allows new business ventures to register for applicable state taxes online. 

Business Plans

• Interactive Business Plan Template  – created by the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center, this template guides entrepreneurs through the steps of building a successful business plan.  At the MI-SBTDC website click om "New Ventures" then "Tools" to access the Business Plan Tool.

Certification

• Michigan Women’s Business Council  – provides access to women business enterprise certification.
• 8(a) Minority Enterprise Development Program – a business development program created to help small disadvantaged businesses compete in the American economy and access the federal procurement market.
• Small Disadvantaged Business Certification - SBA certifies SDBs to make them eligible for special bidding benefits. 
• HubZone Certification - a program created to assist business located in Historically Underutilized Business Zones obtain federal government contracts.

E-Commerce

• SBA Online Classroom – provides access to six online classes on the basic principals of e-commerce.

Environmental Issues

• Michigan Department of Environmental Quality – the link for information on environmental compliances and resources available from the State. 
• Environmental Protection Agency – the small business environmental home page. 

Financing Your Business

• SBA Financial Assistance Programs – links to details on all of SBA’s loan guaranty programs. 
• Cash Flow Spreadsheet – check out sample cash flow spreadsheets or use the blank spreadsheets for your own company. These templates may be helpful guides when beginning your company’s cash analysis. 
• Credit Reports – loan officers will look at the owner(s) personal credit history when analyzing a commercial loan application. There are three credit reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax, or Trans Union. 
• Venture Capital – list of venture capital groups licensed in Michigan. 

Government Contracting 

•  The Procurement Technical Assistance Centers of Michigan  – a statewide network of procurement experts who assist businesses in acquiring federal and state government contracts.

Grants (Please note SBA does not provide grants to individuals to start businesses.) 

• Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance – list of all federal government programs.
• Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) – SBA coordinates the dissemination of R&D funds from other federal agencies to help qualified small businesses develop high-tech innovations which meet government needs.
• Entrepreneurial Development Center – information for Michigan companies on government programs funding high-tech research through the Small High Tech Business R&D Grant Procurement Assistance Program. 

Hiring Employees 

• Business.gov  – resources and cross-agency information for new and established business.  Employer Identification Numbers, New Hire Reporting, Employee taxes, and many other requirements are covered at this site.   
• Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency  – provides information on unemployment, worker’s compensation, wages, hours and fringe benefits.
• Michigan Workers Compensation Agency - provides information on worker's compensation benefits.
• Michigan Occupational Safety & Health – includes standards, legislation, forms, publications, and education and training resources available. 

Intellectual Property

• Michigan Trademarks – download forms to register a trademark or service mark for those used in intrastate (within Michigan) commerce only.
• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office – information, forms, and publications relating to U.S. patents and trademarks.
• Copyrights – information, forms, and publications regarding U.S. Copyright laws.

Taxes

• Michigan Online Tax Registration – provides online registration for applicable state taxes.
• Michigan Sales Tax – link to information and forms.
• Michigan Single Business Tax – link to information and forms.
• Electronic Federal Tax Payment System – information on the free tax payment system offered by the U.S. Treasury.
• Federal Tax ID – also known as the Employer Identification Number, this site provides information and downloadable forms and publications.
• Self-Employment Tax – link to forms and publications with information on federal tax obligations.

Trade Associations

• Michigan Trade Associations – links to many Michigan-based trade associations on the Internet.

Michigan Content Comments: michigan@sba.gov
Last Updated: 12-19-2007
Verified Current: QTR 1 2008